Its OT, but for small applications, Atmels AVR division points to the right direction:

All AVRs have in future minimal 64 byte of RAM, internal reset and clock (1,2,4 or 8MHz). So they can run with zero external components, only 2.7 ... 5.5V must be applied.

The price was dramatically reduced.

Today in mass production:

ATTINY26 (20 pin case, 16 I/Os, 11 * 10 bit ADC)
ATMEGA8 (28 pin case, 23 I/Os, byte I2C like the Philips 80C552)

Planned (Q2/03):

ATTINY13 (8 pin case, 6 I/Os)
ATTINY2313 (2051 pincompatible, 18 I/Os)
ATMEGA168 (28 pin case but 16kB Flash)
ATMEGA8515 (8051 pincompatible, 38 I/Os)

Especially for education and prototyping it was nice, that all these also available in DIP case.

Furthermore the ATMEGAs support self programming (IAP) including reset and interrupt vector redirection during bootloader execution.


The only disadvantage: I can no longer use my good old Keil C51.


Peter